This Day In #Vols History (Jan. 4)

By Brian Bruce on January 4, 2014 12:59 PM

Fifteen years ago on this date in 1999, the Tennessee Volunteers captured the 1998 BCS National Championship, the first for the Vols since 1951, and completed the school's first-ever 13-0 season with a 23-16 win over No. 2 Florida State. Below is the complete recap:

TEMPE (Jan. 4, 1999) - Tennessee won the 1998 national championship, the first for the Vols since 1951, and completed the school's first-ever 13-0 season with a 23-16 win over the No. 2 Seminoles.

Tee Martin completed 11 of 18 passes for 278 yards and threw TD passes to Shawn Bryson and Peerless Price, covering 4 and 79 yards respectively. For his part, Price caught four passes for 199 yards, setting a Tennessee bowl receiving record in the process.

A Fiesta Bowl record crowd of 84,470 saw the game, only the second meeting between the two schools, the first coming in 1958.

Bryson's TD reception came in the second quarter and was followed by Dwayne Goodrich pilfering an FSU pass and returning the oskie 54 yards for a score which gave the Vols a 14-0 lead.

Goodrich's TD run was the third of his career. Bryson's TD came after the Vols took a Jeff Hall field goal off the board due to a roughing-the-kicker penalty.

Florida State narrowed the margin to 14-9 at the half and the score remained that way until midway in the fourth quarter when Martin and Price hooked up for the pivotal 79-yard score, followed by a Seminole turnover and a Hall field goal good from 23 yards out. The Seminoles pulled to within the eventual 23-16 margin late in the game, but could get no closer.

Price was named the Offensive Player of the Game and Goodrich the Defensive Player of the Game.